Alternative Energy Engineering Intro

We will start our unit with some research and role play surrounding a current topic of debate in Colorado: hydraulic fracturing.  Today, you will begin researching this process and will report on its pros and cons.  Towards the end of class, you will receive a "role" in our role play scenario.  We will debate and discuss the process later this week or next.

These are some questions to guide your initial research.  Be careful to use primary sources that are reliable and unbiased, or specify when you have found information that is interesting, but may not be accurate:

1.  What is hydraulic fracture and how is it performed?
2.  Describe a typical scenario of a family that is involved with hydraulic fracturing on their land and how (if at all) it is affecting them.
3.  Describe some basic pros and cons surrounding hydraulic fracture.
4.  What are policy makers (state and federal) saying about hydraulic fracture?  What about the EPA?
5.  What are gas companies saying about hydraulic fracture and citizen concerns around fracking?

Type your thoughts and research in a Pages document titled "Fracking Role Play".  This will be the start of your research.  You have 45 minutes to complete this portion of the assignment.

National Space Symposium Essay

If you would like to be considered to attend the National Space Symposium, you will need to write an essay about the following prompt:

In 2020, where would you like to see space exploration and why?

Email your response by the end of school on March 16th.  

Balloon Car Challenge

Your challenge is to build a balloon car that travels the farthest, carrying 5 pennies, on tile or carpet (we will try on both).  However, all good engineers need to consider cost when designing a project.  Each item that you use will have an associated "cost", even if you provide it yourself (see me for a cost on original materials).  You will have two class periods to build your design, and we will have a competition the week of March 5th.  Your final project must include the following:

1.  a completed, functioning balloon car
2.  a budget with a total cost for supplies
3.  a Keynote presentation or iMovie that "advertises" your design and its cost.  It must also describe how the car demonstrates EACH of the 3 laws of motion
4.  post the presentation/movie to Facebook or email it to me

Newton's Laws of Motion

You will create a movie or podcast showing, explaining or demonstrating Newton's 3 Laws of Motion.

Ideas:
-You could make a podcast like the "Element" podcast, that is mostly descriptive.
-You can make a movie where you film objects demonstrating each law.
-You can make a movie where you film yourselves demonstrating each law.

You will have two class periods to complete this assignment, before we begin working on our next design challenge.

The final movie is due by Feb 22nd in my inbox or on the FB group wall.

Terminal Velocity!

Gravity

Motion pHet Labs

Today, you are going to explore two virtual labs. Use the pdf that I emailed earlier to complete your assignment. Put your answers in Pages, and email your assignment at the end of class.

Forces and Motion:  http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/forces-and-motion
Projectiles:  http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/projectile-motion

REMEMBER:  Click the green "Run Now" button to use the tutorial.
 ----ALSO, you cannot use these tutorials on your iPad, because they require Flashplayer...use a computer for the virtual lab, but put your answers in Pages!